1953 Australian Grand Prix
Encyclopedia
The 1953 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula Libre
motor race held at Albert Park Street Circuit
, Victoria on November 21, 1953. The race, which had 40 starters, was held over 64 laps of the five kilometre circuit for a total of 322 kilometres.
It was the eighteenth Australian Grand Prix
. While much of the Grand Prix's history to this point had taken place on public road or street circuits, this was the first time it had been held on a circuit in a major population centre. The circuit was laid out on public roads surrounding the Albert Park Lake
in inner Melbourne
.
The race was won by Doug Whiteford
, his third and final Australian Grand Prix victory, equalling the feat achieved by Bill Thompson
in the 1930s. It was also the largest margin of victory in the race's history, Whiteford winning by five laps for a margin of 25 kilometres.
Formula Libre
Formula Libre is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery...
motor race held at Albert Park Street Circuit
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit is a street circuit around Albert Park Lake, only a few kilometres south of central Melbourne. It is used annually as a racetrack for the Australian Grand Prix and associated support races.-Design:...
, Victoria on November 21, 1953. The race, which had 40 starters, was held over 64 laps of the five kilometre circuit for a total of 322 kilometres.
It was the eighteenth Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
. While much of the Grand Prix's history to this point had taken place on public road or street circuits, this was the first time it had been held on a circuit in a major population centre. The circuit was laid out on public roads surrounding the Albert Park Lake
Albert Park and Lake
Albert Park and Albert Park Lake are situated in the City of Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south of the Melbourne CBD....
in inner Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
The race was won by Doug Whiteford
Doug Whiteford
Doug Whiteford was an Australian racing driver.Whiteford was best known as a competitor in the Australian Grand Prix which he won three times in four years. He was fondly remember for his Talbot-Lago T26 Formula One car which he used to win his second and third Grands Prix. His third win was at the...
, his third and final Australian Grand Prix victory, equalling the feat achieved by Bill Thompson
Bill Thompson (racing driver)
Bill Thompson was an Australian Race Car Driver from 1929 to about 1935. He drove a Bugatti Type 37A s/cand although his career was not taken to the international level, it was quite successful.-Career:Some highlights of his career include:...
in the 1930s. It was also the largest margin of victory in the race's history, Whiteford winning by five laps for a margin of 25 kilometres.
Classification
Results as follows.Pos | No. | Driver | Car | Laps | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Doug Whiteford Doug Whiteford Doug Whiteford was an Australian racing driver.Whiteford was best known as a competitor in the Australian Grand Prix which he won three times in four years. He was fondly remember for his Talbot-Lago T26 Formula One car which he used to win his second and third Grands Prix. His third win was at the... |
Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago was a French automobile manufacturer based in Suresnes, Hauts de Seine, outside of Paris.-Origins:The Anglo-French STD combine collapsed in 1935. The French Talbot company was acquired and reorganised by a Venetian born engineer called Anthony Lago and after that, the Talbot-Lago... T26C / Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago was a French automobile manufacturer based in Suresnes, Hauts de Seine, outside of Paris.-Origins:The Anglo-French STD combine collapsed in 1935. The French Talbot company was acquired and reorganised by a Venetian born engineer called Anthony Lago and after that, the Talbot-Lago... 4.5L |
64 | 2h 24m 50s |
2 | 26 | Curley Brydon | MG TC Special / MG s/c 1.3L | 59 | |
3 | 22 | Andy Brown | MG K3 MG K-Type The MG K-type Magnette was produced by the MG Car company from October 1932 to 1934.Launched at the 1932 London Motor Show, the K-Type replaced the F-Type Magna but having at first a slightly smaller capacity engine it took the name Magnette... / MG 1.1L |
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4 | 23 | Les Murphy | MG Q MG Q-Type The MG Q-type was a racing car produced by the MG Car company in 1934. The chassis was based on the one used on the MG K3 but was narrower and used N-type axles. The engine used the cylinder block from the P-type but with a special crankshaft to bring the capacity down to 746 cc by reducing... / MG 0.7L |
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5 | 30 | Lou Molina | MM Special / Holden Holden motor The Holden straight-six motor is a straight-six engine produced by General Motors–Holden's in Australia between 1948 and 1986. Initially dubbed the Grey motor alluding to the colour of the cylinder block, later iterations came in the form of a Red, Blue, Black and the four-cylinder Starfire engine... 2.3L |
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6 | 32 | Jim Leach | Austin-Healey 100 Austin-Healey 100 The Austin-Healey 100 is a sports car built from 1953 until 1959. There were two models, the original four-cylinder Austin-Healey 100, built 1953-1956, and the six-cylinder Austin-Healey 100-6, built 1956-1959.... / Austin-Healey Austin-Healey Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and the Donald Healey Motor Company, a renowned automotive engineering and design... 2.7L |
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7 | 7 | Frank Kleinig | Kleinig-Hudson 8 Special / Hudson Hudson Motor Car Company The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy... 4.4L |
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8 | 38 | Stuart Charge | Austin-Healey 100 Austin-Healey 100 The Austin-Healey 100 is a sports car built from 1953 until 1959. There were two models, the original four-cylinder Austin-Healey 100, built 1953-1956, and the six-cylinder Austin-Healey 100-6, built 1956-1959.... / Austin-Healey Austin-Healey Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and the Donald Healey Motor Company, a renowned automotive engineering and design... 2.7L |
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9 | 19 | Arthur Griffiths | Wylie Javelin / Jowett Jowett Javelin The Jowett Javelin is an award-winning British car that was produced from 1947 to 1953 by Jowett Cars Ltd of Idle, near Bradford. The model went through five variants labelled PA to PE, each having a standard and "de luxe" option. The car was designed by Gerald Palmer during World War II and was... s/c 1.5L |
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10 | 16 | Reg Hunt | Allard Allard The Allard Motor Company was an English car manufacturer founded in 1936 by Sydney Allard. The company, based in Putney, London. until 1945 and then in Clapham, London, produced approximately 1900 cars until its closure in 1966.... J2 / Cadillac Cadillac Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest... 4.4L |
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11 | 33 | Bib Stillwell | Austin-Healey 100 Austin-Healey 100 The Austin-Healey 100 is a sports car built from 1953 until 1959. There were two models, the original four-cylinder Austin-Healey 100, built 1953-1956, and the six-cylinder Austin-Healey 100-6, built 1956-1959.... / Austin-Healey Austin-Healey Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and the Donald Healey Motor Company, a renowned automotive engineering and design... 2.7L |
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12 | 17 | Julian Barrett | BWA Special / Frazer Nash Frazer Nash Frazer Nash was a British sports car manufacturer and engineering company founded by Archibald Frazer-Nash in 1922. It produced sports cars incorporating a unique multi-chain transmission before World War II and also imported BMW cars to the UK. After the war it continued producing sports cars with... 1.5L |
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13 | 40 | Neil Charge | MG TC Special / MG 1.3L | ||
14 | 35 | Frank Lobb | Jaguar XK120 Jaguar XK120 The Jaguar XK120 is a sports car which was manufactured by Jaguar between 1948 and 1954. It was Jaguar's first sports car since the SS 100, which ceased production in 1940.-History:... / Jaguar Jaguar XK6 engine The renowned Jaguar XK dual overhead camshaft inline 6-cylinder engine was introduced in 1949 and continued in manufacture until 1992. It was produced in five displacements for Jaguar passenger cars, with other sizes being made by Jaguar and privateers for racing... 3.4L |
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15 | 9 | Ted McKinnon | Maserati 6C Maserati 6CM Maserati 6CM were 29 Italian single-seater racing cars made by Maserati of Modena.It was built on the Maserati 4CM frame, and front suspension as on Maserati V8RI.The first version had*1493.2 cc inline-6*two OHV mounted 90 degree... / Maserati Maserati Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993... 1.5L |
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16 | 42 | John Nind | MG TB Special / MG 1.3L | ||
17 | 60 | Bill Patterson Bill Patterson (racing driver) Gerard William Riggall "Bill" Patterson was an Australian motor racing driver, race team owner and businessman.... |
Cooper Cooper Car Company The Cooper Car Company was founded in 1946 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles' small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England in 1946... Mk.V / JAP 0.5L |
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18 | 31 | Syd Negus | Plymouth Plymouth (automobile) Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:... Special / Plymouth Plymouth (automobile) Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:... 3.1L |
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Ret | 2 | Stan Jones Stan Jones (racing driver) Stanley Jones was an Australian racing driver.Today better known as father of 1980 World Drivers' Champion Alan Jones, Stan was a prominent racing driver himself, racing mainly in the 1950s. He is one of eleven drivers to have won the Australian and New Zealand Grands Prix... |
Maybach Special Mk.1 / Maybach Maybach Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH is a German luxury car manufacturer. It was founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach and his son. The company was originally a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH and was itself known as Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH until 1912.Today, the ultra-luxury car brand is owned by... 4.3L |
56 | |
Ret | 34 | John Calvert | Jaguar XK120 Jaguar XK120 The Jaguar XK120 is a sports car which was manufactured by Jaguar between 1948 and 1954. It was Jaguar's first sports car since the SS 100, which ceased production in 1940.-History:... / Jaguar Jaguar XK6 engine The renowned Jaguar XK dual overhead camshaft inline 6-cylinder engine was introduced in 1949 and continued in manufacture until 1992. It was produced in five displacements for Jaguar passenger cars, with other sizes being made by Jaguar and privateers for racing... 3.4L |
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Ret | 6 | Cec Warren | Maserati 4CL Maserati 4CL and 4CLT The Maserati 4CL and its derived sister model the Maserati 4CLT are single-seat racing cars that were designed and built by Maserati. The 4CL was introduced at the beginning of the 1939 season, as a rival to the Alfa Romeo 158 and various ERA models in the voiturette class of international Grand... / Maserati Maserati Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993... 1.5L |
51 | |
Ret | Wal Gillespie | HRG HRG Engineering Company HRG Engineering Company also known as HRG, was a British car manufacturer based in Tolworth, Surrey. Founded in 1936 by Major Edward Halford, Guy Robins and Henry Ronald Godfrey, it took its name from the first letter of their surnames.... Special |
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Ret | Haig Hurst | Allard Allard The Allard Motor Company was an English car manufacturer founded in 1936 by Sydney Allard. The company, based in Putney, London. until 1945 and then in Clapham, London, produced approximately 1900 cars until its closure in 1966.... K2 / Ford Ford Flathead engine The Ford flathead V8 was a V8 engine of the flathead type, designed by the Ford Motor Company and built by Ford and various licensees... 4.4L |
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Ret | 25 | Peter Catlin | Bugatti T51A Bugatti Type 51 The Type 51 series succeeded the famous Type 35 as Bugatti's premier racing car for the 1930s. Unlike the dominant Type 35s of the prior decade, the Type 51 were unable to compete with the government-supported German and Italian offerings.-Type 51:The original Type 51 bowed in 1931... / Bugatti Bugatti Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti.... 1.5L |
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Ret | 37 | Peter McKenna | BMW 328 BMW 328 The BMW 328 is a sports car made by BMW between 1936 and 1940, with the body design credited to Peter Szymanowski, who became BMW chief of design after World War II .... / BMW BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands... 2.0L |
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Ret | 24 | Reg Nutt | Talbot-Darracq Darracq Automobiles Darracq S.A. was a French motor vehicle manufacturing company founded in 1896 by Alexandre Darracq.Using part of the substantial profit he had made from selling his Gladiator bicycle factory, Alexandre Darracq began operating from a plant in the Parisian suburb of Suresnes... / Talbot Talbot Talbot was an automobile marque that existed from 1903 to 1986, with a hiatus from 1960 to 1978, under a number of different owners, latterly under Peugeot... 1.5L |
14 | |
Ret | 18 | Don McDonald | Austin A40 Austin A40 A number of different automobiles were marketed under the Austin A40 name by the Austin Motor Company between 1947 and 1967.Austin's naming scheme at that time derived from the approximate engine output, in horsepower... Special / Austin Austin Motor Company The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987... 1.3L |
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Ret | 12 | Arthur Chick | Bugatti T37 / Bugatti Bugatti Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti.... 2.0L |
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Ret | 3 | Lex Davison Lex Davison Alexander Nicholas Davison was a racing driver who won the Australian Grand Prix four times between 1954 and 1961 and won the Australian Drivers' Championship in 1957... |
HWM Hersham and Walton Motors Hersham and Walton Motors is the world's longest established Aston Martin business and is well known as a racing car constructor. As a constructor, it is best known for its involvement in Formula Two from 1950 to 1953 and Formula One in 1954... F2 / Jaguar Jaguar XK6 engine The renowned Jaguar XK dual overhead camshaft inline 6-cylinder engine was introduced in 1949 and continued in manufacture until 1992. It was produced in five displacements for Jaguar passenger cars, with other sizes being made by Jaguar and privateers for racing... 3.4L |
3 | |
Ret | 10 | W.H. Hayes | Ford V8 Special / Ford Ford Flathead engine The Ford flathead V8 was a V8 engine of the flathead type, designed by the Ford Motor Company and built by Ford and various licensees... 4.4L |
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Ret | 11 | Ted Gray | Alta / Ford Ford Flathead engine The Ford flathead V8 was a V8 engine of the flathead type, designed by the Ford Motor Company and built by Ford and various licensees... 4.3L |
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Ret | 16 | Bill Willcox | Ford V8 Special / Ford Ford Flathead engine The Ford flathead V8 was a V8 engine of the flathead type, designed by the Ford Motor Company and built by Ford and various licensees... 4.3L |
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Ret | 20 | Jim Gullan | MG K3 MG K-Type The MG K-type Magnette was produced by the MG Car company from October 1932 to 1934.Launched at the 1932 London Motor Show, the K-Type replaced the F-Type Magna but having at first a slightly smaller capacity engine it took the name Magnette... / MG 1.1L |
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Ret | 27 | Phil Harrison | Dodge Special / Dodge Dodge Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide.... 4.0L |
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Ret | 28 | Les O'Donaghue | Ballot Ballot (automobile) Ballot was a French automobile manufacturer who made cars between 1921 and 1932.The Ballot brothers, Edouard and Maurice, founded their company in 1905. Before World War I they manufactured automobile and marine engines. The company was re-founded as Etablissements Ballot SA in 1910.Edouard... / Oldsmobile Oldsmobile Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory... 3.9L |
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Ret | 39 | Jack O'Dea | MG Special / MG 1.3L | ||
Ret | Ron Phillips | Allard Allard The Allard Motor Company was an English car manufacturer founded in 1936 by Sydney Allard. The company, based in Putney, London. until 1945 and then in Clapham, London, produced approximately 1900 cars until its closure in 1966.... K2 / Ford Ford Flathead engine The Ford flathead V8 was a V8 engine of the flathead type, designed by the Ford Motor Company and built by Ford and various licensees... 4.4L |
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Ret | Vin Maloney | MG TC Special / MG 1.3L | |||
Ret | 65 | Silvio Massolla | HRG HRG Engineering Company HRG Engineering Company also known as HRG, was a British car manufacturer based in Tolworth, Surrey. Founded in 1936 by Major Edward Halford, Guy Robins and Henry Ronald Godfrey, it took its name from the first letter of their surnames.... Special / HRG 1.5L |
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